Former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has publicly criticized the worsening state of sanitation in the Liberian capital, Monrovia, describing the city as “disgustingly dirty” and urging city authorities to take immediate and effective action.
Speaking during an appearance on the State Broadcaster Tuesday, Sirleaf expressed her deep concern over the city’s poor waste disposal practices and the apparent neglect of municipal regulations. Her comments were directed particularly at Monrovia City Mayor John-Charuk S. Siafa, whom she called on to enforce sanitation laws and restore order in the capital.
“This city is filthy, and it needs to be addressed. Silence makes us all culpable,” Sirleaf said, emphasizing that the worsening environmental conditions pose serious risks to public health and the city’s image.
The former president pointed out that despite frequent overseas travel by government officials ~ where they witness cleaner and more organized cities ~ those same standards are not being brought home to Liberia. She singled out Freetown, the capital of neighboring Sierra Leone, as a positive example. Despite having fewer resources, Freetown has made noticeable progress in urban management, which she credited to the commitment of its local leadership.
“Even at the Ellen Johnson Ministerial Complex, there is dirt all around,” Sirleaf said. “Nobody is saying people should be denied their livelihood, but it can be done in a proper, organized manner. Cleanliness is next to godliness.”
She made a direct appeal to Mayor Siafa: “I don’t know what his constraints are, or what his ambitions may be, but he has to do something. That’s why he’s there. That’s his responsibility.”
